Effect of Delayed Colostrum Intake on Energy Substrates in Buffalo Calves Born in Winter Season

A study was conducted on fourteen winter born buffalo calves to establish the developmental changes in various energy substrates and their relation to delayed colostrum intake. Blood samples were collected from these calves at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24h after birth and subsequently once on day 7, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 and were analyzed for glucose, fructose, lactate, pyruvate and alkaline phosphatase. Colostrum was fed to these calves 8h after birth. Fructose was found to be an important energy source at birth (37.90±3.50 mg%) and its level registered a continuous fall on first day (P<0.01). The levels were not influenced by colostrum intake. Afterwards, the concentration ranged between 3.25±0.34 to 4.64±0.18 mg percent. Glucose, after an initial increase, (P<0.01) receded till 8h. Following colostrum feeding, the level again increased, eventually reaching to 98.04±7.72 mg% at 24h. Thereafter, the values exhibited fluctuations and ranged between 72.04 ±7.36 to 81.54±7.33 mg% (p>0.01). Lactic acid remained high for first 24h. The variations were not significant at different hours of sampling. Pyruvic acid was low at birth (2.20± 0.06 mg%). It increased significantly for first 8h, declining after feed intake to 2.74±0.19 mg% at 24h and hence, suggested that pyruvate as a substrate was important for neonate calf immediately after birth. Lactate and pyruvate though declined subsequently, but did not present appreciable change with advancing age. Alkaline Phosphatase registered a significant increase after colostrum feeding. The pattern of change of these metabolites, thus cleared indicated the enhanced metabolic rate in response to high-energy demands of neonate calves after birth at low ambient temperatures. Both age and nutrient intake played an important role in attaining homeostasis for several hours of life.